Conferencing with Canvas?

Have you tried Conferences in Canvas yet? New audio updates make it even easier to use than before...here's the latest. When joining a conference, users are asked to select a conference audio: via microphone or a listen-only mode. Microphone users must grant access to their browser and will be prompted for permission. Users should test their microphone to ensure it is working before the conference starts. * Firefox and Chrome have improved audio within the conference via Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC) technology support. * Internet Explorer and Safari continue to participate with existing Flash-based audio. Conference Recordings Moderators have improved functionality and control for recording conferences. After joining the conference and setting up their microphone, moderators receive a reminder notifying them that they can record the meeting, but they must click the recording button to start the recording. Moderators can control the length of the recording, … [Read more...]

Introducing Canvas Studio

It's always struck me as funny that the most intriguing feature of Canvas during our search period was often defined as  "the dynamic aspect" - an LMS that is continually updated with new features. Why funny? Because it was also the one complaint I heard most often once we began using Canvas. Some people just liked relying on a system that never changed during the academic year, while counting on minor updates run only before the start of the first semester. Kinda like shopping for new school clothes as a kid. Big day on the calendar. "Shopping" with Canvas is like having an unlimited budget with spending all year! Our closet keeps growing! So what's the IN color for Spring?  Check out Canvas Studio at product.instructure.com., a new website that let's us peek at the projects and features in development. … [Read more...]

Cross-List Your Courses

Did you know that instructors can now cross-list their own courses? If you are teaching multiple sections of a course and would like to load your content into and teach from one parent course, then cross-listing is your answer to workload fatigue. Essentially you load your content into your 01 course, then you move your section (02,03...) into your 01 course. This action brings over all student enrollments from each section. The beauty here is you can still assign different due dates for quizzes and assignments per section and for ease of grading, you can grade by section too. Watch the Cross-Listing Video or review the text instructions How do I Cross-List? in the Canvas Guides. … [Read more...]

Canvas Notes: Online Canvas Training Opportunities

Did you know that Instructure offers training opportunities online? Besides the Canvas Guides that offer step-by-step illustration of Canvas features, there are numerous mini-instructional videos listed in their Canvas Video Guides. Some are even presented with closed-caption and in Spanish. Another great opportunity is the CanvasLIVE  webinar series. Designed to give Canvas users additional training and an opportunity to share their knowledge with the community, each session includes a brief tutorial on a Canvas tool or feature, focused demonstration, and a short Q&A with Canvas experts. Webinars are offered monthly, are free and open to everyone. You will need to register. Keep an eye on @umwctln on Twitter for a monthly announcement of the webinar topics for the month. So when you can't figure something out and want to find a resolution quickly, check out what is already out there from Instructure. … [Read more...]

Canvas Notes: Canvas Mobile 2.0 is here!

Canvas Mobile 2.0 * is here! Download the Canvas by Instructure app in iTunes or the Google Play store. Changes to the mobile app reflect full browser version functionality so you can complete an entire course online. With the addition of Modules and Quizzes, you can now access the same navigation tabs you use in your course, providing more consistency between the mobile app and your desktop. Need help with Canvas Mobile 2.0? You can locate all the mobile lessons in their new mobile manuals in the Canvas Guides. *iOS version 6 (iOS5 will no longer be supported but is still available in the app store) and the iPad 2.0 tablet release will be released this Fall.   ** Speedgrader for iPad™ is a separate application and does not currently support APIs.   … [Read more...]

Canvas Notes: Summer Changes in Canvas

Welcome back faculty! Here's a run-down of what's changed in Canvas over summer.  New to Explore:  EduApps - Want to transform your course? Bring the best of the web into your course with open integrations. Look in your course Settings to add cool external tools like TedEd, Quizlets, Google Charts, Twitter, Khan Academy, Word Press and more. You can add these to your course without any IT help and most are free! We'll start exploring these apps one at a time shortly so stay tuned to Canvas Notes. New Navigation buttons: Attendance: Now you can easily mark students present, absent or late; create a seating chart and even award badges for achievements. Best of all, it integrates with the gradebook! Chat – it’s back, newly designed and more secure. Give it a try for virtual office hours! Evaluations: You'll see two buttons (Student Evaluation of Courses and Course Evaluation Reports). The Assessment office has successfully concluded a pilot test of an evaluation program … [Read more...]

Canvas Notes: It’s that Time Again!

Grading is done and it's time to enjoy the holiday break. Before you go, a few Canvas Notes…. Remember you NO LONGER need to "end your course", that's why the button is gone. Courses are closed automatically five days after the end of the grading period for students and moved to their Past Enrollments. Students can still access your content as read-only though, so be sure you have locked any files you don't want them to have future access to and check quizzes too to be sure they have defined end dates so students will not be able to open them. As an instructor you can still access your courses anytime. To remove them from your Course List menu, just click the "customize"link in the top corner of the drop-down menu and uncheck any courses you no longer want showing. Planning ahead? If you're teaching multiple sections of a course and would like them cross-linked so you only have to put content in one, send me an e-mail ASAP so it will be ready when you return from break. Don't … [Read more...]